STATION ORCHESTRA
BORODIN (1834.-1887), Doctor of Medicine and Professor of ( hemistry, became one of the leading' Nationalist ' Composers in nineteenth century Russia. Ho wrote this ' Sketch ' in 1880. A ' programme ' is printed on the title-page of the score. It may be freely translated as follows: ' In the silence of the sandy steppes of Central Asia ring the first notes of a peaceful Russian song. One hears, too, the melancholy strains of songs of the Orient; one hears the tramp of horses and camels as they come. A caravan, escorted by Russian soldiers, crosses the vast desert, fearlessly pursuing its long journey, trusting wholly in its Russian warrior-guard.
' Ceaselessly t ho caravan advances. The Russian songs and the native songs mingle in one harmony ; their strains arc long heard over the desert, and at last are lost in the distance.'
Borodin aims at suggesting the great spaces of the plains by high, held notes which continue almost unbroken throughout.
The Russian song is heard at the opening on a Clarinet, answered by a Horn. A few moments later the Cor Anglais (Contralto Oboe) plays the Oriental song.

MILDRED DILLING (Solo Hnrp)
LIADOV'S piece also has the title Valse,
Badinage. It was originally a little jest written for the Piano, and dedicated to the composer's son. Then Liadov scored it for Piccolo, two Flutes, three Clarinets, Bells and Harp. Here we have it in an arrangement that gives a very good ' musical-box ' effect.

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